Gemma Boyd

26 Tudor Crescent, Hainault, Ilford, Essex IG6 2RW

Telephone: +44 7770 836 626
Email: mail@gemmaboyd.com
Website: www.gemmaboyd.com

Professional Profile
An engaging, heartfelt and incisive musician, published freelance writer, Forward Prize-nominated poet and visual
artist with international experience, and Intermediate French. Possesses a wealth of transferable skills, including the
musical dexterity to inform jazz journalism, and the talent to attract repeat business in all complementary art forms.
Has previously set up and led creative workshops for the homeless and adults with learning difficulties, and has held
backstage and front of house positions in mainstream theatres. Boasts the capacity to maintain professional and
personal relationships, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure towards strict deadlines.

Objective
Looking to develop a portfolio career as an all-round international artist, and to enhance communication and
creativity within, and for the well-being of the community.

Career Summary
2013 date
Licensed Busker, London Underground Busking Scheme, London.

Performing solo folk and jazz acoustic violin and accordion on the Underground, actively engaging the audience
with an extensive repertoire of tunes, confidence, and full-bodied playing.
Key Achievements:

Successfully busking all year round on the streets of Brighton & Hove, London and Paris, playing both as a solo
multi-instrumentalist, and as a member of a number of jazz and folk bands.
2013 date
Visual Artist, Gemma Boyd Musician and Writer, London.

Creating handmade music and poetry themed multimedia postcards for all occasions, using an array of
photography and artistic skills to lend flair and originality to community-based projects.
Key Achievement:

Building a loyal network of repeat customers to which to sell postcards.

2005 date
Professional Musician, Gemma Boyd Musician and Writer, The South, London, Paris.

Playing double bass, violin and accordion in a breadth of performances as a soloist, and with swing, jazz and
blues bands, collaborating with singer-songwriters, playing in pit orchestras for musicals, and in classical
orchestras.
Key Achievements:

Founding and leading a number of jazz bands, identifying gaps in the market for them, independently creating
paid opportunities in Paris, teaching double bass, and playing in a successful 1930s/40s swing and blues band,
The Priory Street Stardusters for 5 years at festivals, weddings, jazz clubs, parties, corporate events etc..
2000 date
Freelance Writer and Performance Poet, Gemma Boyd Musician and Writer, London.

Publishing an array of reviews, photographs, news stories, blogs and poetry, often working within a niche
specialism of jazz journalism, as well as editing, proofreading and managing concurrent projects effectively.
Key Achievements:

Successfully publishing 20 online live gig reviews by Jazzwise magazine and Serious, 3 online book reviews, 35
poems in magazines, receiving a nomination for the Forward Prize Best Single Poem competition 2015, and
editing and publishing 6 volumes of Poets Cornered Creative Writing Magazine for homeless Londoners.
Work Experience:
April 2014
Intern, Jazzwise magazine, London.

Publishing live gig reviews, news stories, and photographs on www.jazzwisemagazine.com, proofreading the
entire magazine, and being credited in the May 2014 issue.
Further Key Arts Experience:
2005
1999 2001
1999 2001

Activity Support Worker, Hamilton House Day Centre, Brighton & Hove.
Writing Collective Facilitator, St. Mungo's North Lambeth Day Centre, London.
Dresser, National Theatre, London.

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Proofreading and Editing Experience

The Elements of Rhythm Vol. 1 by David R. Aldridge, Rollinson Publishing Company, Editorial Consultant.
Poets Cornered Creative Writing Magazine, Creator, Editor and Publisher of 6 volumes of this publication for
homeless people attending writing workshops, as well as establishing and facilitating these workshops at
homeless day centres in London over a 3-year period.
Jazzwise magazine (Issue 185), Proofreader.

Professional Development

Advanced Poetry with Roddy Lumsden, The Poetry School (2014).

Diversifying Your Portfolio, FEU Training (2013).
The Write Stuff Jazz Journalism Course with Jazzwise and Serious, Royal Festival Hall, London (2012).
Jazz Pianist and Educator, Barry Harriss Harmony, Improvisation, and Vocal Workshops, London (2012).
An Introduction to Working in the Community Music Sector, Musicians' Union (2012).

Publications (selection)
Gemma Boyd: Soaring Underground Busker, article, streetiam.com, 8 May 2015.
Thinking Out Loud, poem, blueofnoonpoetry.tumblr.com, 3 April 2015.
Curtis Stigers Swinging and Sublime at Ronnie Scotts, live gig review, www.jazzwisemagazine.com, under Live
Reviews, 18 December 2014, and www.facebook.com/curtisstigers, 19 December 2014.
Double Bass Sonnet, poem, South Poetry Magazine, Issue 50, October 2014.
Barry Harris Trio bring bossa and bop to Pizza Express, live gig review, www.jazzwisemagazine.com, under Live
Reviews, 20 August 2014.
Busking My Story, blog, www.buskingmystory.com, 14 August 2014.
Russian civilian gas mask GP7 & hose, poem, fakepoems.tumblr.com, 24 June 2014.
Charlotte Glasson Band UK Tour, news story, www.jazzwisemagazine.com, under Breaking News, April 2014.
Follow Your Heart Everyday Wisdom
www.frogandthewell.com blog, July 2013.

for

an

Extraordinary

Life

by

Josh

Langley,

book

review,

Charles Lloyd Quartet with special guest, Maria Farantouri The Barbican, London, live gig review,
www.serious.org.uk, and www.facebook.com/pages/The-Write-Stuff, April 2013.
Clare Connors and Red-Angel: Big, Small and Sideways Royal Academy of Arts, London, live gig review,
www.jazzwisemagazine.com, under The Write Stuff, November 2012.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, poem, and Poetry, film give voice for OCD sufferers by Elizabeth Landau, article
and interview for www.cnn.com, 9 May 2011.
Psychotherapy; Discovery; Transmogrification, poems, Speak Out Survivors' Network (Sussex) Newsletter, No. 64,
February/March 2002.
Celebrity, poem, Wayfarers, No. 88, February 2001.
Blood, poem, The Marxist, November/December 2000.

Education and Qualifications

BA (Hons):
BTEC:
NCFE Certificate:
NCFE Certificate:
NCFE Certificate:
Music:

English and Related Arts 2:1 (1998).

Edexcel Level 3 National Certificate in Music Practice Double Distinction (2007).
Level 2 Performance Skills (2007).
Level 3 Integrative Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (2005).
Level 3 Counselling Skills and Theory (2005).
Grade 8 Double Bass (1992); Grade 5 Violin (1992); Grade 5 Theory of Music (1992);
Grade 5 Piano (1987).

Key I.T. Skills

Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Other Details
Affiliations:
Interests include:

Musicians Union and the National Union of Journalists.

Running an allotment, Animal Welfare, Human Rights and Cycling.

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REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

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